New Jersey CPS Review

Children’s Rights did an independent review of how CPS handles investigations. They published their findings in September 2011. Quickness of response improved greatly, but there still are needed improvements on the depth and breadth of investigative interviews.

The review found that “found that investigators failed to interview child care providers in 65 percent of the instances when such an interview was needed.”

“Today’s case record review, which examined 242 investigations from October 2010, highlights many positive results, including:

• The state is responding to allegations of child abuse and neglect quickly. Although still falling short of the 98 percent goal set by the court-ordered reform, 91 percent of the investigations reviewed showed child welfare workers initiated investigations within 24 hours of receiving a report of child abuse or neglect. By rapidly responding, workers are able to make sure children are not being left in situations where they may be subject to abuse or neglect.

• All of the investigations reviewed in this study completed an assessment of the immediate safety needs and issues for the potential child victim. Additionally, reviewers identified no concerns about the safety decisions made by investigators in 90 percent of investigations.

In addition to the positive results listed in this study, the independent monitor noted several areas that require additional improvement:

• It is not clear whether interviews of children are occurring properly. Reviewers were unable to determine if children were interviewed properly in 28 percent of the cases reviewed. Investigations should not be approved by a supervisor and closed unless it is clearly documented that case workers properly interviewed child victims outside the presence of the caretaker as required by state policy.

• Investigators often fail to contact individuals with critical information related to the case. Of the reviewed reports for which DCF was able to identify the source of the abuse or neglect allegation, investigators failed to attempt any contact with that source nearly 30 percent of the time. Furthermore, investigators did not attempt contact with those who might have information critical to the case, including child care providers (62 percent of the time), mental health professionals (35 percent of the time), family friends (38 percent of the time), and neighbors (48 percent of the time).

• Only about half of the families identified as “high risk” in the review were transferred for continuing services. An investigator may determine during the course of an investigation that a family could benefit from additional services, whether or not abuse or neglect has been found in the home. However, 49 percent of families identified as having a high risk of future harm to the children in their home were never transferred to receive ongoing support through DCF.”

REFORM Puzzle Piece